Means for assisting and testing the memory



March 21, 1933.

A. G. HUMPHREYS MEANS FOR ASSISTING AND TESTING THE MEMORY jg'fl iled Feb. 27, magi-7 2 zwhfA/roze. 6/9. ifiumphre v Patented Mar. 21,

UNITED STATES PATENT}, OFFICE AUsrm GEORGE nunrnnnrs, or BRIGHTOE'EZNGLAND MEANS non nssrs'rme AND TESTING THE M EMoRY Application filed February 27, 1930, Serial No.

device for educational purposes consisting of a number of blocks, discs or pieces bearing the letters of the alphabet or other signs 0 or Words and so constructed that they can 0 discs being diiferently disposed in the pe be assembled only in a predetermined order and position. In'one form the discs are shaped to form a segment of a circleof greater dimensions than a semi-circle, each disc having in its peripheral edge asemicircular or other indentation arrangedto fit a corresponding projection formed in a recess designed to receive the discin a tablet or base member,the indentations of different riphery thereof so that each disc-will fit only intoone of the recesses aforesaid.

The present invention has for its object to provide improved, simple and effective means for the purpose referred to. j

According to'the invention, the improved means comprises a series of base members or sections, such as flat plates, blocks or the like of cardboard or other suitable material, and a corresponding series of elements or parts, conveniently of similar material, each of the base members or sectionsbeing formed 7 with a transverse channel the edges of which are so shaped or arranged in relation toeach other that the corresponding element or part shaped to fit into the channel will not fit'into the channel of any of the other base members or sections of the series,each pair of 'corre sponding partshaving respectively indicated thereon in any suitable manner a question and the'correct answer thereto. The means according to the present invention is of special utility for'use in teaching children simple arithmetic, multiplication, currency, measure and other tables and the like, and also history, geography, spelling, grammar, English, languages, mathematical formulae and other subjects. If the'answer toa-question has not been memorized, the correct answer 'can' be ascertained by trial of the} ele-- 431,946, and in Great Britain March 27, 19:29.

ments or parts in the recesses or the like in the base member or'section upon'iwhich the "question is indicated. On theother hand, if

the answer to the particular question is known, the correct element or part can be selected and inserted or fitted in position without previous trial of otherelements or 7 parts, and there is therefore an incentive for a child to memorize the answers to avoid the necessity of finding the correct element'or' part by trial. One-or both of the edges of the transverse channel in each base member or section is or are of-curved,sinuous or other irregular formation, the corresponding elements or parts being similarlysha-pedto fit into the transverse channels. Preferably, the base members or sections bear the questions and the elementsor parts aforesaid have the V respective answers indicated thereon, but, if desired, the reverse arrangement may be adopted. In a simple method for the production of a series of base members or sections and the corresponding elements or parts, a stripof cardboard or other suitable material is cut from end to end along two spaced lines, and the outer portions of the strips so severed are fixed upon a suitable backing strip, the assembly being then sub-' divided transversely into the required number of parts or sections, the cutting lines or the lines of sub-division, or both, being so arranged that all the parts orsections of the assembly have recesses and cooperating elements or partsof different form. "Conven-'- iently, one or both of the cutting lines is or are of regular sinuous or'undulatory form and the cutting lines are spaced at a constant mean distance apart, the transverse lines of sub-division being spaced irregularly with respect to'the spacing or pitch of the un dulations of the cutting lines, so thatthe channels in the series of'base members or sections produced are'of different form, further and different series being readily obtamed by varying the longitudinal position of one of the sinuousorundulatory cutting.

assembly of strips is sub-divided, such'cut ting lines being determined bythe use of 'a :lines with respect to the 'other before "the I i suitable means. If desired, the series of base members or sections may be provided in the form of a strip or unit produced, for example, as herein described. The use of curved sinuous or undulatory cutting lines base membersand co-operating elements;

and v Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the manner m which further series of base members and co-operating elements may be formed. 7

In carrying the invention into efiectaccording to a simple preferred construction,

the improved means according to the invention comprises a plurality of base members each consisting of'afiat backing 1 of card- 7 board or the like having two spaced parts 2,

Sfixed upon its upper face, and having their adjacent edges 4, 5 respectively of curved,

' sinuous or other irregular form. The base members so provided have indicated thereon questions, the answers to which are indicated upon corresponding elements such as 6, Figure 2, adapted to fit into the channel 7, in the. respective base member. Thus, the base member may, for example, bear the question 9 X 9 are, the corresponding element 6 hearing the answer 81. The transverse channels 7 in the base members are so formed that each element 6 is capable of being fitted only intothe corresponding base member. For; this purpose, the parts2 and 3 and the element 6 advantageously are formed in the manner hereinafter described. a v

.As shown in Figure 3, a strip 8 of cardboard or the like is inscribed from end to end with a pair of spaced sinuous'lines 9, such line's being of a regular undulatory charac-' ter and being parallel disposed. The strip is out along the lines 9 and the outer parts 2,3 are applied and fixed, asby means of an adhesive, upon a similar strip forming the backing 1. The intermediate portion of the strip from which the elements 6 are formed is located in position betweenthe parts 2 and 3 and the assembly is then sub-divided transversely uponthe lines 19, such lines IObeing spaced irregularlywith respect to the spacing or pitch of the undulations of the cutting lines 9, so that the transverse channel 7 in each base member so produced is of diiferent formation from that of all the remaining channels. By such an arrangement of curved lines it is impossible for any one of the elements 6 to be fitted or even dropped into any other channel 7 than thatin the .corresponding base member. The method shownin Figure 3 is suitable for the production of a series which is comparatively small in number. i

If further series of base members and elements are-required,thesemay be produced in a similar manner by moving or setting one of the sinuous cutting'lines 9 longitudinally with respect to the other. Thus, in Figure 4, the cutting lines 9 are offset by distance a to produce adifierent series from that shown in Figure 3, while, by setting the end 11 of the respective line 9 at any one of the other positions indicated by the dotted lines 12, additional and different series of base members and cooperating elements may be produced in themanner beforedescribed.v For example, as shownin Figure4, eight different series maybe obtained. .Thus, if'each series contains eight separate base members and co-operating elements,.the total number of basezmembers and elements will be 64,

all of which will be difi'erent from one another. i I T V V v 7 It will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the, particular embodiment hereinbefore described. For "example, similar effects may be secured by providing, the cutting lines 9 of shallow toothed or serrated or other formation, or by providing the transverse channel 7 with one straight edge and one curved or sinuous edge. Furthera more, the base members andthe respective elements or parts may be made of wood, metal or other material and may be produced by sawing, stamping, casting, pressing-orother suitable or convenient means. i i

It will furthermore be understood that the invention is applicable to various purposes, other than those hereinbefore specified. For example, it may be used for teaching the reading'of maps, the. elements or parts bearing duplicate parts of the maps with names or other required indications thereon.

An educational applia plurality of rectangular blocks of uniform peripheral dimensions, a transverse channel extending completely across one face of each block between two ends so that each block consists of two parts thefull thickness of the block separated by an integral part which is thinner, the edges for-ming the junctions of. the. said parts 'being'sin uou's, the transverse channel of one block being distinct from that of any other block, and a plu rality of elements each having alongitudinal dimension corresponding to atransverse dimension of one of said blocksand each formed with longitudinal sinuous'edges and nce comprising a straight transverse ends, the sinuous edges of such elements being such that each element has its own characteristic configuration so that it has to be fitted into one of said channels of a predetermined block, the said elements bearing matter which is complementary to matter formed upon the said blocks, and their transverse end edges coinciding with the straight edges of the blocks. AUSTIN GEORGE HUMPHREYS. 

